|
|
Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
  
Location: .Norfolk..Mafia.. ,England UK | d500neil - 2007-04-25 12:00 AM
All Mylar, including the
Custom Coro Mylar-trim tends to involve a fairly-wide swath(sp?) OK: "SPREAD/run" of that chrome-tinfoil-like applique, which
can, and does separate itself (peel-off) from the door & quarter Trim-Panels, over-time.
That,s IT,, Tinfoil type stuff... Mine is actually in Very Good Condition... It may be higher up the Panel than i mentioned earlier... If RON doesn,t post PIC,s ... I can take some Later..............
Edited by Rebels-59 Coronet 2007-04-24 7:10 PM
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
 
Location: bishop, ca | Yeah, please do post some pics of it; it does sound as if your car may be a CUSTOM Coronet. (so THERE!) |
|
| |
|
Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Location: .Norfolk..Mafia.. ,England UK | Neil....
Here are several PIC,s... If you notice the front Fenders, I have the Arch Chrome as Well, This must be Original As the EYEBROW Chrome is Different if it wouldn,t of had the Arch Chrome, I have the other version as Spares, Which need to have about 2" cut off to meet the Extensions,, I have included the Rear 5 louvers and Rear Fin Inserts... ALL The Chrome on my Car is All PIT FREE,, Leading me to Believe it is AS the Car Came from factory.. None has Aged more than the other,,Also included the "Tinfoil Type" Inserts on the Door Panels.... you can also see the Hood Emblem,, I have fitted a Second Fender Mirror to the passenger Side...
 (100_1883.JPG)
 (100_1884.JPG)
 (100_1885.JPG)
 (100_1887.JPG)
 (100_1888.JPG)
 (100_1889.JPG)
 (100_1890.JPG)
 (100_1894.JPG)
Attachments
----------------
 100_1883.JPG (67KB - 280 downloads)
100_1884.JPG (63KB - 252 downloads)
100_1885.JPG (70KB - 264 downloads)
100_1887.JPG (43KB - 264 downloads)
100_1888.JPG (66KB - 271 downloads)
100_1889.JPG (61KB - 258 downloads)
100_1890.JPG (65KB - 256 downloads)
100_1894.JPG (79KB - 257 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Location: .Norfolk..Mafia.. ,England UK | Also you can see My Car has POWER STEERING.. This Also appears to Be ORIGINAL..... So several things don,t add up According to the Build Sheet, Unless these are the Access Grps and the 319.... I have always wondered if they Built a Custom Coronet, As this would Explain many Things,,, I also have the CLOCK, But not listed again |
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Well, Firstly, the CLOCK, (for-SURE, & the Power-steering: apparently!) ARE part of "Accessory Groups", or, else 'they' would be shown,
individually, ON the B-Sheet.
I'm gonna PM you some pics, from my photo archives (as I am proudly confuser-illiterrate) which will show you ANOTHER
Apparently-Custom-Coronet 4-dr sedan, and it DOES have the "extra" chrome side trim, but several of the pics I'll send show Coros
WITHOUT any side trim on them, or, just-along-the-body-side!
A CLOSE observation, of several of the Coros, appear to show STRAIGHT-BACKED seats, which indicates that the "notched"
seat-backs were STILL part of the Cuistom Coro "package" , in 1959.
Most of my 1959 Dodge pics are of CRL's, but, overall, I'm quite pleased to see that I took as many (exterior) photographs
of Coros, as I did.
You can decide how many of them , that you'd like to post, to this thread, to help others, in the future!!
BTW, Ron Waters 'says' that there were the "8' Accessory Groups, as listed on the B-Sheet, PLUS TWO additional
ones, INCLUDING your "mysterious" # 319 !!!!!
|
|
| |
|
Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Location: .Norfolk..Mafia.. ,England UK | NEILS Pic,s....( 1959 Dodge,s )... Couldn,t decide which ones to post, So posting them all........... They do Show the Different Options for chrome Trim And Interior,,,,,,,,,,
 (PICT0001.JPG)
 (PICT0002.JPG)
 (PICT0003.JPG)
 (PICT0004.JPG)
 (PICT0005.JPG)
 (PICT0006.JPG)
 (PICT0007.JPG)
 (PICT0008.JPG)
 (PICT0009.JPG)
 (PICT0010.JPG)
 (PICT0011.JPG)
 (PICT0012.JPG)
 (PICT0013.JPG)
 (PICT0014.JPG)
 (PICT0015.JPG)
 (PICT0016.JPG)
 (PICT0017.JPG)
 (PICT0018.JPG)
 (PICT0019.JPG)
 (PICT0020.JPG)
Attachments
----------------
PICT0001.JPG (102KB - 275 downloads)
PICT0002.JPG (104KB - 274 downloads)
PICT0003.JPG (101KB - 262 downloads)
PICT0004.JPG (101KB - 249 downloads)
PICT0005.JPG (107KB - 245 downloads)
PICT0006.JPG (100KB - 246 downloads)
PICT0007.JPG (103KB - 263 downloads)
PICT0008.JPG (103KB - 273 downloads)
PICT0009.JPG (108KB - 269 downloads)
PICT0010.JPG (103KB - 257 downloads)
PICT0011.JPG (106KB - 259 downloads)
PICT0012.JPG (101KB - 259 downloads)
PICT0013.JPG (100KB - 279 downloads)
PICT0014.JPG (106KB - 265 downloads)
PICT0015.JPG (96KB - 257 downloads)
PICT0016.JPG (106KB - 241 downloads)
PICT0017.JPG (101KB - 269 downloads)
PICT0018.JPG (102KB - 245 downloads)
PICT0019.JPG (106KB - 263 downloads)
PICT0020.JPG (107KB - 266 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | All of the above pics are interesting, to observe, together, but, note how a solid-body hardtop could have NO lower
side trim, OR, could have a "side-spear" molding, that ends just-BEFORE it reaches the rear of the front wheel opening!
THEN, some models have 'wider' lower side trim, that terminate at the rear of the front wheel opening, but, other cars
(like Clive's) have that 'wide' side molding go up-and-over the wheel opening, where it connects with the chrome trim which
forms the headlights' "eyebrow" moldings.
So, there were FOUR different lower trim-motifs, on the entry-level Coronet models.
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 193
Location: Los Lunas, NM | Neil,
I took a close look at the glass in my car today. As you figured, it is all Solex glass. The windshield is labeled "DUPLATE" (NOT shaded after all), the four windows are "DUOLITE", and the wings/rear quarters/back glass are "HERCULITE". All the glass seems to be original, with a light factory tint.
We are now prepping the body for its return to the original charcoal and silver paint scheme. It should look awesone when finished!
Thanks again, Dave
Edited by dave58 2007-05-01 12:30 AM
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Ah HA! So there WAS "all-Solex" available, but, WITHOUT a "tinted" windshield!!!
Yours is the first car that I've found, with that specific glass-coding, although the existence OF that Code was suspected; kinda
like finding a star, or planet, that "should" be there, but which has not actually been located!
Your car WILL be beautiful, in its OEM paint scheme!
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1443
Location: Oconomowoc Wi | Yeah My rear bench seat has a straight bask. not the notched kind. |
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Bart, your car's factory IBM-card would probably have a "1" , in the 'Side-Spear' box, as your car has the end-of-fin
chrome-trim, but not the "gills" or the extended-over-the-front-wheel-stainless trim.
Clive's car is a Custom Coro, and it DOES (happen to ) have all three trim items, on it.
I NEED to get my hands on a 1959 Ross Roy book, to confirm the various equipment/trim options that were available!
What's NICE, about 1959 Coros, is their DIVERSITY, in trim/appearance!
What's a PAIN, is documenting their diversity!
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 143
Location: Atlanta, GA | This is a great exercise, you guys are good. I have a 61 Chrysler Newport that I know was a special order car. The shipping order number is 0501 8888. We know that it was ordered/built on or about May 1, according to the first four digits. I have understood that the next four digits were normally random, but ours is all eights. Does anyone know how these four numbers were assigned and their meaning? Galen Govier says that our number as all eights designates that the car was a special order. |
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Yeah, Jack, those "8" 's designate a S.O. -something.
You haven't looked under the back seat, for your car's B-sheet?
For $45.00 IIRC, you can request a copy of the factory's IBM Build Card--I think that they will I.D. the car's selling dealership,
too, in their accompaning letter, to you, on your car.
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2932
Location: Lemoore CA | Neil, can you decode the tag on the 57 royal I just picked up? I am not positive the paint scheme is original, that is really what I am most curious about. Also, if you can do it, where do I find the tag? thanks |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 143
Location: Atlanta, GA | On our Chrysler we haven't found the broadcast sheet under or behind the seats, but I haven't pulled the carpet up. We do have the IBM sheet. The dealer code was for a dealer that never existed and the region code was for the engineering pool in 1960 and 1961. Our understanding is that this was a test car that was supposed to be destroyed after testing. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 269
Location: Tampa, FL | d500neil - 2007-04-30 7:52 PM
All of the above pics are interesting, to observe,
What's really interesting is the 2 door hardtop being sold for 1,200 or best offer. How old is that picture? |
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Mike, yeah, that was :"Or BEST OFFER!!! Think he'll take a Grand, for it? Pic was taken in late 80's/early 90's, probably. Makes ya SICK.
James, yeah; I speak FLUENT 57, & almost-flawless 58; pretty-good 59 (now, if I can only score a Ross Roy, for those Option-Groups!), and passible 60 DODGE....
James: please PM me, or post a pic, of your car's P/T plate, & I'll see what I can do, for you.
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Jack, on your 61 Chrysler, it DOES have a formal VIN , for it??
As you know, Pilot Cars and crash-vehicles had "Job Numbers" on them, and/or very low VIN's.
Can you read its actual Build-Date, on the IBM card?
Sacrificial/Prototype cars were normally constructed in AUG or SEPT.
There is a 1969 PLY Pilot Car convertible "shown" in this month's Hemmings Classic Cars, & it has both a Job Number, and a VIN, ending
in something like: 0000010.
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Seattle, WA | OK hope you can make out my tag. I think the car was originally white or beige. 59 Coronet 2 door sedan.
 (cimg0508.jpg)
 (CIMG0509.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
cimg0508.jpg (56KB - 256 downloads)
CIMG0509.jpg (68KB - 236 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Seattle, WA | More
 (CIMG0514.jpg)
 (CIMG0520.jpg)
 (CIMG0526.jpg)
 (CIMG0513.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
CIMG0514.jpg (73KB - 257 downloads)
CIMG0520.jpg (78KB - 239 downloads)
CIMG0526.jpg (93KB - 253 downloads)
CIMG0513.jpg (83KB - 272 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Well, there isn't much to go-on, on your car, Brad; it was built in L.A., on 6/03/57, if I can make-out that "Schedule" date.
The Model MD2L merely means 59 Dodge V/8 Coro (low price class)--the "important" number here, is the "2"; all Coro's were :"L".
The "Body Type" 311 : All 59 Dodges had a "3", followed by the model & style numbers. Clive Reeve's Coro 4-dr sedan is "313".,
so a "311" is a 2-dr sedan.
The "M5-1" number confirms the 2-barrel carb version of the 326 V/8 engine.
The paint was single-color "Biscuit" ; a sort of tan color; it's the color that appears in the center-area of your dashboard.
The interior Trim is "147', which IS a unique Custom Coronet "tan" motif!
BTW, I HAVE obtained the option codes (Clive), and the 59 Custom Coro 'package' included : different (mylar-trimmed) door
panels, body cloth, & "stylized" bolsters, notched seat backs, CARPETING, & air-foam front seats.
The Custom Coros apparently did NOT include any exterior stainless steel or chrome trim!
I STILL do not know what Option Code "319" might be, but, if Clive gets his car's IBM Build Card, it should show that
option's identity!
Clive's car has Option Group #2 & #5 ; #2 is the Radio/Heater Group, which includes heater, back-up lights, lt O/S mirror,
I/S glare-proof mirror, & a radio.
#5 is the Appearance Group, which includeds 2-tone plastic steering wheel, "wheel covers"(non-spinner), stone shields, and
electric clock.
The "gills", and the full-length stainless steel lower-body trim are apparently separately-buyable; they are NOT part
of any Option Group.
Finally, an interesting re-paint give-away, on L.A. Built cars, is the paint-over, of the Paint/Trim plate; OEM, there was a piece
of masking-tape placed over the center-area of the P/T plate. That tape probably held the Broadcast Sheet, but the tape was
"always" left sticking to the P/T plate, when the car got painted.
If you look closely, you will see the 'shadow' impression, of that masking tape, now painted-over, on Brad's car's P/t plate.
So, that's about 'it'; you-all with 59's should buy copies of the factory IBM cards, on your cars!
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Seattle, WA | Thanks for the information! I've had this car for so long but never knew it could be decoded like a 60's muscle car. This site has really sparked my interest in my old friend. |
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Hey, Brad; you ought to see al the information that can be gleaned, from a Detroit-built car.
I do not know why the L.A. built cars had Paint/trim plates with so little information stamped onto them, but, there-you-go.
BTW, the build information that I have available comes from years of vehicle data observation, and deductive reasoning,
as opposed to finding any particular factory internal-documents, which would : Explain-All...
Back in 1990, I did get to tour the Historical Society's archives, & the only evidentiary records that it still has, on 50's cars
is contained on the micro-fiche drums/rolls , which contain images of the various years' cardboard I.B.M. punch-cards,
which directed how a particular car was to be built. The IBM cards controlled the printing-out, of the Broadcast Sheets, which
accompanied the cars down the production line.
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 143
Location: Atlanta, GA | For D500Niel
Yes, our 61 has a serial vin. It is 8113176736. On the IBM sheet, the shipping date is 4-21 and the engine stamp is 41 hp 4-14. We understand that is for the 413 high performance and stamped/assembled on April 14. We understand it was built to do final testing for the 62 300H that would be on the short wheelbase and have the 413 with inline carbs, rather than the crossrams. It has the inline carbs, solid lifters, dual popint ignition, and distributor with a tach drive. The suspension is all heavy duty, brakes are 12', and wheels are 15" with 7.60-15 Goodyear Bluestreak wide whitewall tires (the original spare is in the trunk and has never been used). 150 speedometer and red leather interior used in the 62 300 Sport convertible and factory installed seat belts.
My grandfather was an executive with Chrysler and he received the car as part of his retirement present. When his boss told him about the car he explained that the car was not for resale and that it was to be destroyed and it was important that grandfather not sell the car. It had high speed testing sheets from the proving grounds in the glove box showing it ran at 146mph....hardly a production Newport!! Bruce Thomas at the Chrysler Archives said these performance test cars were usually destroyed and not released to the public, but he knew of a few special cars that were spirited out by people with some clout. Gil Cunnningham of the 300 Club says he has only seen one other car with the same dealer code and region code and that the specific codes were for the engineering pool in 60 and 61.
I will try to post some pictures.
Jack |
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Jack, that's jaw-DROPPING info!
The mind (or, what's left of it!) BOGGLES at the thought of what-all the factory had 'developed', but which never saw the light, of the outside-world!
April would seem to be almost too-late , to do serious test-engineering, on a next-year's model!
It would be neat to see if you can dig-up any info, on the car's mileage, when it was given to him!
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 143
Location: Atlanta, GA |
The car was delivered to my grandfather on Sept 12 of 1961 so the car was about 4 months old and had just under 10,000 miles. It now has 65,000 miles. He was told that after the testing that it was driven by another executive for a few months. He did not know how many test miles were run. The car had not been titled and the invoice Chrysler provided for the transfer referred to the car as an executive purchase.
I have spoken with a fellow that worked for Carter at the time doing special work with Chrysler. He suggested that some of the testing could have been to finalize the carburetor specs as they would have been supplied to Chrysler in August at the start of the 62 model year. I assume that the testing could also have been to finalize items like spring rates, shocks, tire size, etc. Bruce Thomas ran the truck proving ground group at the same time and said that after the testing was done and engineering reports made all the records were routinely destroyed so we would not have a way of knowing exactly what testing was done unless we find the people that ordered and performaed the testing.
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 709
Location: Poznan, Poland, Europe | Gee, and I thought that I'll be at least able to see difference in standard and Custom Coronets by absence of rear fin ribbed trim and the so-called gills, - judging by my private observations from pictures, but this thread had taken this hope away from me  now there's even more trim combinations, and the most shocking one with plain side without spear at all.
Edited by FinFan 2007-05-24 7:37 AM
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | NOPE; James; ya gotta look INSIDE a Coro, to see if it's "Custom-ized" , or not!
The front-and-rear seats, with their NOTCHED(depressed-)-center-sections, are easy give-ways, though!!!!
Yeah seeing-is-usually-believing; who would have thought (believed) that there WAS such a critter, as a plain-sided Coro!!!!
|
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 709
Location: Poznan, Poland, Europe |  thanks for at least one steadily present feature of Customs. But in my pics I've also found a Dodge Royal with such notched seats, so it will have to take "step 2 - watching what's written on the fin's beginning"
As for plain-sided Coronet, logically it's a natural condition for a lowest model, 1959 Ch**y Biscayne also had not much trim on the side, I only would doubt if growing-up standards of car's equipment would allow such thing after a decade of spicing-up even the cheapest models (trimless front windshields were absent for example).
 (1959 Dodge Royal Lancer 5.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
1959 Dodge Royal Lancer 5.jpg (80KB - 266 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Hey, James; the ROY's SHOULD have, as standard-equipment, notched seat backs (that's one reason that they're BETTER than the Coros--BUAHAHAHAHA)
whereas, the standard Coro-model included straight-across seat-backs; one had to buy/order the Custom Coronet (sub-model)
to get such things as carpeting, and the notched seat-backs.
The Coronet "Custom" sub-model-stuff was all-located inside the car; no exterior call-outs, or trim-items identified a Custom Coronet.
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | James, it can take a TRAINED-eye, to spot the three models' exterior differences, from afar!
The ROY's & CRL's have that wide-FLUTED lower-side molding, and only the CRL's had the "gear-cog" trim, around the
front parking lights.
Those items, and, reading the nameplate on the front-of-fin.
Of course, the interiors featured different upholstery, but we're talking easy exterior identification, here!
Well, and, the only 2-door sedans and 2-door station wagons (the Suburbans) were Coronets (trim-style).
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | ..I meant to say, above: ....front-of-fin, OR, on the fender (for the Coros). |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 709
Location: Poznan, Poland, Europe | Thanks for patience and clear explanation I knew about the gear-trim around parking lights on CRL's, just didn't knew how long it was available down the models, looks like it doesn't go behind Royals.
With the Custom Coronet it seems to mean that it was only a name for a certain level of equipment, like it went on '55-'57 Hudson Hornets where Customs had 2 tone paint and a few more chrome accents here and there, nothing more, but thanks to that were more expensice than Supers. On Dodge, the ladder would go as : Coronet- Custom Coronet- Royal- Custom Royal
I have now noticed that Royals have heavier looking, longer and ribbed "shield" on the beginning of the fin where the name is put. The chrome band on the lower edge of fin is wider too...Coronet has those details in the style of 1957 models, smaller and narrower. |
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Thought I'd bump this, to the top of the board, for easy access, for James to find!! |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1443
Location: Oconomowoc Wi | Neil,
Can you look back at the broadcast sheet I posted earlier in thie thread and tell me what gear ratio I have in the rear axel ? |
|
| |
|
Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Location: .Norfolk..Mafia.. ,England UK | I have just Aquired a Book on 55-61 Chrysler 300,s.. It lists a lot factory No,s for Decoding and Paint No,s , So if any one wants a Number decoded i may be able to Help
Should of mentioned, Most No,s are for the Options when Ordered New
Edited by Rebels-59 Coronet 2007-12-03 6:50 AM
|
|
| |
|
Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Bart, I see your axle ratio is "53 3" ; I PRESUME that it is the standard 3.36:1 open rear end.
BUT: if you can get under the differential assembly (that's the removable section, facing forward), there is a small "flat" area,
on the passenger's-side, where the factory VERY-lightly stamped the axle ratio.
You may have to use a wire-brush, and/or some rust-remover, to get the grunge off of that small area, but, you WILL be
rewarded by seeing the axle-ratio appear, as a thin-stamping impression, on that 'flat' area.
Let us know what you discover!
|
|
| |
Fender tag decoding
